Additional Info

Nearby Theaters

Located on the north end of the Ocean Grove Boardwalk, the Strand Theatre operated weekends only in the spring and fall, full-time in summer, closed in the winter. It was a tiny theater tucked in between an amusement arcade and a block of souvenir shops and hot dog stands. It fell victim to a plan to build senior citizens CCRC facility in 1977.

The Strand Theatre was demolished, financing for the new project fell through, everybody lost.

Owned and run by Jack Huston and his wife. Jack was a projectionist with IATSE local 243 and worked at the St.James with George Clark until they went down to a one man booth and Jack then worked at the Paramount on the north end of Asbury Park boardwalk. The Strand opened around 1906-09 as I hear it and was run by Jacks father and the theatre was then known as the SANAREO. Jack changed it to the Strand. Jack gave me my first job as a porter in his Strand theatre when I was 14 and I became his afternoon projectionist when I was 16 when I got my working card from IATSE local 243.

Just found this & had to make a slight correction of Jack’s name.His last name was Hughson & his wife’s name was Lauretta.My dad Charlie Kerr, who was Jack’s cousin, also helped Jack & Lauretta during the summer months with anything they needed help with getting done.When I got older I used to help my dad deliver the cards to the businesses & hotels in Ocean Grove & other towns nearby advertising the movie to be shown the following week along with the passes for free admission to be handed out at the discretion of the owners of the facility.The times & movies sure have changed since then.

Hi Debbie, thanks for the correction in Jack and Lauretta’s spelling.
How nice to hear from someone that remembers the Strand. I do remember you father, I was around 14 or 15 when I met him. A small man with a big heart. Did Jack of my dad use to call him 3D? I don’t remember if it was his nick name or not. I’m heading to NJ in Aug. and plan a little old tour of Asbury and hope to get a look in side the old Paramount when I’m there. I loved the Strand, do you remember Boo Boo Hankins? He was Jack’s projectionist in the early 70’s? Bobby Hankins. I hear he still is a projectionist somewhere in Pa.
Hope to hear more
gil

The lot is empty now. If Madison Marquette ever rebuilds the Asbury Casino, that lot would be a perfect spot for a new theatre. Plenty of foot traffic from both directions on the boardwalk. Not mainstream, first-run, since you’d be competing with Middlebrook. But more independent, art house stuff, mixed in with retro classics.